■ verb
1》 drag or pull a hard or sharp implement across (a surface or object).
↘use a sharp or hard implement to remove (dirt or unwanted matter).
2》 rub or cause to rub against a rough or hard surface.
↘ humorous play a violin tunelessly.
3》 just manage to achieve, succeed, or pass.
↘( ~ something together/up ) collect or accumulate something with difficulty.
↘try to save as much money as possible; economize.
↘( ~ by/along ) manage to live with difficulty.
■ noun
1》 an act or sound of scraping.
↘an injury or mark caused by scraping.
↘ Brit. a thinly applied layer of butter or margarine on bread.
2》 informal an embarrassing or difficult predicament.
3》 archaic an obsequious bow in which one foot is drawn backwards along the ground.
Phrases
~ acquaintance with dated contrive to get to know.
~ the barrel (or the bottom of the barrel ) informal be reduced to using the last and poorest resources.
Derivatives
~r noun
scraping adjective &noun
Origin
OE scrapian 'scratch with the fingernails', of Gmc origin, reinforced in ME by ON skrapa or MDu. schrapen 'to scratch'.